Farag finishes the job in DetroitGeoff Robinson reports - photos by
Bryan MitchellAli Farag of Egypt
showed up to the 2016 Motor City Open presented by The Suburban
Collection as the 22nd-ranked player in the world – a big jump from
his #88 ranking last year when he bowed out in the first qualifying
round.

Now,
his star will rise even higher after taking down English superstar
and World #3 Nick Matthew to claim the title of MCO champion.

The win was Farag’s third consecutive defeat of a Top Ten player in
as many days.

After defeating World #1 Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt in the
quarterfinals, Farag again impressed against World #9 Frenchman
Mathieu Castagnet in the semis before making his case as the best
young player in the game by completing the trifecta with his victory
over Matthew.

For his efforts Farag will take home a check for $10, 830 and a
Longines watch from sponsor Greenstone’s Fine Jewelry.

Farag had won three PSA titles prior to this weekend, but none could
hold a candle to his route to the MCO championship.

“This is definitely the best week of my career by far,” the
23-year old Egyptian said afterwards.

“I’ve showed myself that I can compete with these guys and have the
mental toughness to do it three days in a row. Hopefully this is
going to be the beginning of a good future.”

After
falling behind 2-6 out of the blocks to the three-time World
Champion Matthew, 35, Farag was able to find his rhythm, hitting two
winners and crossing up the veteran on multiple occasions to take
the first game: 11-7.

In Game Two Matthew stormed back with vengeance, winning five
straight points after opening the game 3-3. Game Matthew, 11-5.
Match evened at 1-1.

“The first game I should’ve done better,” Matthew said. “I turned
it around in the second, but I got off to a bad start in the third
and he started to read me.”

Farag
was unstoppable in the final two games, coasting in the third, 11-6,
then getting off to a start in the fourth that put everyone on
notice that it would be the young phenom’s night.

On the opening point of the final stanza Farag made a diving attempt
to save the point.

Two shots later, he hit a masterful backhand for a winner that
brought the capacity crowd to its feet. Farag reached game point at
10-4 – and while Matthew was able to fight off three championship
points, the Harvard graduate that turned pro barely a year ago
finally put the Englishman away with another beautiful backhand,
11-7.

“In the third and fourth, you have to go up an extra gear if you
want to compete,” Farag said.

“He
was on a roll,” Matthew said. “The crowd was feeding on him. The
last few points was the first time I felt tired all week. Credit to
him for getting me to that point.”

Receiving the MCO trophy, Farag credited all who came to watch him
play over the last four days.

The rising star said he would be back in 2017, and that he
appreciated the opportunity to play in front of people who truly
appreciate the players’ efforts on the court.

“If you ask any player, they would tell you that this is one of
the best tournaments on tour,” Farag said. “We feel at home, and
everyone takes care of us. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

24-Jan, Semis:
Farag to face Matthew in the final Geoff Robinson reports - photos by
Bryan MitchellGiant-killer Ali Farag
of Egypt continued his magical run at the 2016 Motor City Open
on Sunday evening, downing France’s world #9 Mathieu Castagnet
in the semis one day after taking out world #1 Mohamed El Shorbagy.
Farag moves on to Monday’s final, where he’ll have a chance at a
third upset against world #3 Nick Matthew.

“It
feels awesome,” Farag said afterwards. “It’s always tough to back up
a good win, especially against number one.”

His determination against Top Ten players was put to the test early
against Castagnet. There wasn’t a lot between the two, as Farag held
off his opponent through tough, first-game rallies: 12-10.

“I think that was crucial in terms of confidence,” Farag said.
“It’s a big difference when you’re one-love up than one-love down.”

Castagnet
took the second game, 11-9, and that final point was the first time
that either player had held a two-point advantage in the stanza.

Farag opened the third game up with a 4-1 advantage, putting
Castagnet on the run and trying to tire out the Frenchman. The
23-year-old won the third easily, 11-4.

The fourth was another back-and-forth affair, with neither player
able to gain more than a point advantage. Castagnet was back in the
zone, displaying great touch en route to a 9-8 advantage. Farag dug
in deep, however, and reeled off the next three points for the game.
He finished the match off with an aggressive cross-court winner -and
a standing ovation from an adoring crowd. Just a year out of Harvard
University. the mechanical engineering major appears on a fast track
to the Top Ten.

Next
up in the second semifinal was World #3 and second seed Nick Matthew
against former MCO Champion, Borja Golan of Spain. If Farag is
intent on proving he belongs in the World Top Ten, then Matthew is
determined to win back his #1 ranking after a struggle with an ankle
injury last year.

Matthew defeated Golan in four games, proving to be the more
consistent player through a bushel-full of exciting rallies.

Golan matched the English superstar stride-for-stride – hitting some
masterful winners. After dropping the first (11-8), the Spaniard hit
a beautiful winner along the rail to take the second: 11-9.

In
Game Three Matthew lived up to his nickname, “The Wolf,”
relentlessly chasing down balls and keeping rallies alive while the
unforced errors piled up for Golan. The World #17 had hardly broken
a sweat over the first two days of play, but Matthew’s consistency
took its toll. Matthew won the final two games: 11-8, 11-7.

“He got a quick lead in the second and started attacking early in
the rally,” Matthew said. “I got it back towards the end, but I was
always chasing that game. I was just determined to get a good start
in the third, and that took me through.”

The MCO final will be the first-ever meeting between Farag and
Matthew. Farag is the youngest player in the field at 23, while
Matthew is its oldest at 35.

24-Jan, Semis:
Farag to face Matthew in the final ...
23-Jan, Quarters:Farag takes out top seedQuarter-finals at the BAC saw Ali Farag claim the win of his
carees as he beat top seeded compatrion Mohamed Elshorbagy in five
games ....

Geoff Robinson reports - photos by Bryan Mitchell

Ali Farag won three PSA
titles in 2015 – but Saturday’s quarterfinal against fellow Egyptian
Mohamed El Shorbagy in the Motor City Open was the finest moment of
his career. He went toe-to-toe with the World #1 and came out on top
in five games.

When
the first match of the day kicked off on Court 3, it didn’t appear
that anything out of the ordinary was on the horizon.

El Shorbagy took the first game over Farag with ease, 11-6. The
two-time MCO champ came out of the blocks fast – in form and hitting
pinpoint shots for winners.

Things changed midway through the second stanza as El Shorbagy,
leading 6-3, may have gotten too comfortable. Farag fought his way
back into the game and took it: 11-9.

Seizing the momentum, Farag rode quality strokes to Game Three
victory: 11-7. El Shorbagy fell behind 1-4 to open the fourth and
appeared on the ropes, before reaching deep down to get back in the
game. A pair of winners to give him game point, then Farag tinned to
even the match, 2-2.

Game
Five was neck-and-neck until 4-4, but Farag started bringing his
larger opponent in with drop shot after drop shot, and El Shorbagy
appeared to wear down as the unforced errors piled up. Farag
continued to run the top seed back and forth, winning the match with
an 11-8 triumph in the fifth.

“It’s one of the bigger wins of my career,” Farag said
afterwards. “To beat the world number one is a huge thing. He was
dominating the first game and a half. I changed my plan a bit, and
thankfully it worked.”

Meanwhile,
Castagnet and Ryan Cuskelly were staging an epic of their
own. Castagnet came back from a 1-2 game deficit, dominating Game
Five 11-2 to set up a semifinal showdown with Farag.

“I
was a bit nervous,” Castagnet said.

“I couldn’t clear my head and it was really difficult today. The
fourth game was crucial, and when he came back on the court he was
really tired, so he couldn’t give anymore.”

Cuskelly took advantage of a frustrated Castagnet in Games Two and
Three, as the Frenchman had a running dialogue with the umpire.
Castagnet dialed it in for the fourth and fifth games when it really
mattered.

Number-two
seed Matthew provided the capacity crowd with a much more
dominant performance in his quarterfinal – defeating fellow
Englishman Chris Simpson in straight games.

After the second seed’s dramatic, five-game triumph in Round One,
Matthew was dialed in from start to finish against Simpson.

The
final match of the night showcased the 2009 MCO Champion Golan,
who hasn’t broken a sweat through his first two matches.

He took out Hong Kong’s Leo Au – the last remaining qualifier was
playing in his fourth match in four days – in straight games.

Quarter-finals at the BAC saw Ali Farag claim yhe win of his
carees as he beat top seeded compatrion Mohamed Elshorbagy in five
games .... more to follow ...

22-Jan, Round One:Matthew survives, Au surprises

Friday’s Main Draw first
round of the Motor City Open presented by The Suburban Collection
delighted a capacity crowd at the Birmingham Athletic Club, as the
world’s best squash players went at it for more than five grueling
hours.

“By the skin of my teeth,” Matthew said afterards. “I was
thinking about tomorrow, and that’s what happens in this sport. He
took the momentum and was hitting great shots out of thin air. He
had no fear. In the end, I used my experience to hit the shots I
needed to win.”

Also
moving on is top seed and World #1 Mohamed El Shorbagy of
Egypt, countryman Ali Farag, France’s Mathieu Castagnet,Ryan Cuskelly of Australia, Spaniard Borja Golan, and
Hong Kong’s qualifier Leo Au, who produced the upset of the round as
he beat fourth seeded compatriot Max Lee in straight games.

21-Jan:Qualifying complete in Detroit:

For
the second day in a row Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal did his best
Houdini impression - surviving a five-game marathon against
compatriot Farhan Zaman to advance to the Main Draw, where he faces
the in-form fifth seed Ryan Cuskelly.